Partakers Christian Podcasts

Romans 12: Living Life

Study 03: Worship and service

Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Here in this first verse of chapter 12, of that magnificent letter of Romans in the New Testament section of the Bible. As they are now Christians, their old life and old bodies have gone! That is what the letter writer Paul has been leading up to and saying. Paul, that great Apostle of the early church, now starts to elucidate about living life for God and for God alone. As Christians they have a new life and new bodies! Paul exhorts these followers of Jesus to worship Him with their whole bodies – not just their minds or their hearts! This is the new transformed person as living sacrifices in response to God’s mercy, justice, grace and love! Jesus sacrificially died for the person, so the person must also sacrifice their old ways of life – thoughts, desires, attitudes and actions – and proceed to live a whole life which is pleasing to God – pleasing in their thoughts, desires, attitudes and actions…

Why? Because that is part of whole life worship of Jesus, the Son of God. Because the whole body of the individual Christian is, in the point of view of God, been declared holy through the death of the Son Jesus Christ on the cross.

As Christians, we are to worship with our whole bodies and minds. As Christians we have been marked and sealed with the Holy Spirit who lives within the Christian –helping, counselling, consoling, comforting and empowering. It is not just worship, but also to be our service of God. Jesus, the Son of God, was the servant of humanity. It is our responsive worship to therefore be of service to God in all things that we do, as we go about our daily lives – work, rest and play.

If you are struggling in some area of life, encumbered with a perpetual sin, then confess to God that sin, ask Him to cleanse you afresh and to fill you with His Spirit. Keep on being filling with His Spirit. Not just on Sundays but every day of the week and in all areas of your life! By being filled with the Spirit, I mean be controlled by the Spirit and let Him guide your thoughts and actions. If the church and Christians were to do that, this world would be changed!! How can we do that? Well, that commences in v2 and tomorrow!

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Psalm 75

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Psalm by Asaph. A song.

75:1 We give thanks to you, God.

We give thanks, for your Name is near.

Men tell about your wondrous works.

75:2 When I choose the appointed time, I will judge blamelessly.

75:3 The earth and all its inhabitants quake. I firmly hold its pillars.

Selah.

75:4 I said to the arrogant, “Don’t boast!”

I said to the wicked, “Don’t lift up the horn.

75:5 Don’t lift up your horn on high. Don’t speak with a stiff neck.”

75:6 For neither from the east, nor from the west,

nor yet from the south, comes exaltation.

75:7 But God is the judge. He puts down one, and lifts up another.

75:8 For in the hand of Yahweh there is a cup,

full of foaming wine mixed with spices.

He pours it out.

Indeed the wicked of the earth drink and drink it to its very dregs.

75:9 But I will declare this forever:

I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

75:10 I will cut off all the horns of the wicked,

but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.

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Romans 12: Living Life

Study 02: Keys to Romans

As we saw yesterday, in this letter to the Romans, Paul explores some large ideas such as guild, faith, assurance, propitiation, redemptions, sin, security and sanctification! This is in evidence in the key verses to this great epistle!

Some Key verses to this letter of Romans are:

• Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek. For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”
  
• Romans 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
  
• Romans 8:38-39 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  

However, as well as these large themes, it also contains some very practical advice about living as a follower of Jesus Christ. As we will see, if you are saved, that is that you have put your faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, you also have to put that faith into practise! How you live your life, is to be a reflection of the God that you follow! That is what this series is about: practically living and loving as Christians, followers of God… And that is what we will investigate for the next month in Romans 12! We start in our next podcast. Thank you.

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Romans 12: Living Life

Study 01: Introduction

Welcome to our series “Living Life” as we investigate chapter 12 of that amazing book of the Bible, Romans!

"In chapter 12, St. Paul teaches the true liturgy and makes all Christians priests, so that they may offer, not money or cattle, as priests do in the Law, but their own bodies, by putting their desires to death. Next he describes the outward conduct of Christians whose lives are governed by the Spirit; he tells how they teach, preach, rule, serve, give, suffer, love, live and act toward friend, foe and everyone. These are the works that a Christian does, for, as I have said, faith is not idle." Martin Luther in his book “Preface to the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans.”

Paul is writing to a group or groups of Christians in Rome in about 45-50AD! Just a few years after Jesus Christ ascended back to God. In this letter the Apostle Paul presents God's plan of salvation, which is in Jesus Christ, and the effect this has upon all mankind. This gospel plan sees God's righteousness extended to all of humanity.

How so? This Gospel plan, urges Paul, is based entirely on the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. It is received by faith in Him, rather than the good works of a human. This letter of Paul’s investigates ideas such as guilt, faith, assurance, security and sanctification.

We continue that idea of key themes in our next podcast before continuing into this amazing passage of Scripture!! Will you join me?

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Psalm 51

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

51:1 Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.
51:3 For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.
51:4 Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.
51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.
51:6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
51:7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
51:8 Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
51:9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.
51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
51:11 Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your holy Spirit from me.
51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.
51:13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.
51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
51:15 Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise.
51:16 For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.
51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
51:18 Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.
51:19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.

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Psalm 49

(as read by Anne A)

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For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.

49:1 Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,

49:2 both low and high, rich and poor together.

49:3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.

49:4 I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.

49:5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

49:6 Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—

49:7 none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him.

49:8 For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,

49:9 That he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.

49:10 For he sees that wise men die;

likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.

49:11 Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever,

and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.

49:12 But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals that perish.

49:13 This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings.

Selah.

49:14 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd.

The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning.

Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion.

49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.

Selah.

49:16 Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.

49:17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.

49:18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself—

49:19 he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.

49:20 A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.

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Psalm 147

¹ Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
² The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.
³ He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
⁴ He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
⁵ Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

⁶ The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.
⁷ Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.
⁸ He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.
⁹ He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.

¹⁰ His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man;
¹¹ the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
¹² Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion,
¹³ for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you.
¹⁴ He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.
¹⁵ He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.

¹⁶ He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.
¹⁷ He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?
¹⁸ He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.
¹⁹ He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.
²⁰ He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD.

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Psalm 49

49:1 Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,

49:2 both low and high, rich and poor together.

49:3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.

49:4 I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.

49:5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

49:6 Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—

49:7 none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him.

49:8 For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,

49:9 That he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.

49:10 For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.

49:11 Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations.

They name their lands after themselves.

49:12 But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals that perish.

49:13 This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings.

Selah.

49:14 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd.

The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning.

Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion.

49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.

Selah.

49:16 Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.

49:17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.

49:18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul—

and men praise you when you do well for yourself—

49:19 he shall go to the generation of his fathers.

They shall never see the light.

49:20 A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.

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Psalm 138

A psalm of David.

¹ I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;

I will sing your praises before the gods.

² I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.

I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;

for your promises are backed

by all the honor of your name.

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³ As soon as I pray, you answer me;

you encourage me by giving me strength.

⁴ Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord,

for all of them will hear your words.

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⁵ Yes, they will sing about the Lord's ways,

for the glory of the Lord is very great.

⁶ Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble,

but he keeps his distance from the proud.

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⁷ Though I am surrounded by troubles,

you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.

You reach out your hand,

and the power of your right hand saves me.

⁸ The Lord will work out his plans for my life-

for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.

Don't abandon me, for you made me.

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Psalm 36

36:1 An oracle is within my heart about the disobedience of the wicked: “There is no fear of God before his eyes.”

36:2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, too much to detect and hate his sin.

36:3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. He has ceased to be wise and to do good.

36:4 He plots iniquity on his bed. He sets himself in a way that is not good. He doesn’t abhor evil.

36:5 Your loving kindness, Yahweh, is in the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

36:6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God. Your judgments are like a great deep. Yahweh, you preserve man and animal.

36:7 How precious is your loving kindness, God! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings.

36:8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the abundance of your house. You will make them drink of the river of your pleasures.

36:9 For with you is the spring of life. In your light shall we see light.

36:10 Oh continue your loving kindness to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.

36:11 Don’t let the foot of pride come against me. Don’t let the hand of the wicked drive me away.

36:12 There the workers of iniquity are fallen. They are thrust down, and shall not be able to rise.

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